AN: All science content in this chapter is complete and unmitigated bullshit. Put on your high boots and enjoy!

Doctor Carmen Ruiz dropped the used syringe into a disposal box and ran a shaky hand through her hair. "Well, that went well."

Elizabeth gently released Carson's hand and laid it on the bed. "I suppose it could have been worse," she sighed. The steady rise and fall of Beckett's chest was almost hypnotic after his frightening panic attack. "Sooner or later he's going to have to deal with the fallout from this mess."

"I know, but I don't want him putting any additional stress on his body right now. He'll sleep for a few hours, and I'll have Kate Heightmeyer talk to him as soon as he wakes up."

Teyla had watched the episode from the doorway in shocked silence. She took a step in, but found she was too disturbed to approach the bed. "I will find Colonel Sheppard," she said. "Perhaps there is something I can do to help in his investigation."

Elizabeth frowned, but before she could say a word the Athosian had disappeared into the corridor. Just as suddenly, Carmen raised a hand to her earpiece. "Ruiz here." The doctor frowned as she listened. "On my way. Diane, I'll be in Carson's lab. Doctor Weir, you may want to join me."

The two women could hear raised voices well before they reached the lab. To their shock, one of the combatants was mild-mannered Rick Baker. Red-faced with fury, he was standing toe-to-toe with another man, waving a sheaf of papers and shouting accusations.

"Okay, that's enough," Carmen directed firmly. "Gentlemen, do you want to tell me what's going on?"

Elizabeth stood back, content to watch for the time being. With Carson laid up, Carmen was in charge of the medical department and had the discretion to handle the staff as she saw fit. The other man, Elizabeth recalled, was Carson's research assistant, Jeff Dunne. His expression was caught somewhere between anger and distress.

Rick turned his thunderous glare from Jeff to Carmen. "This little bastard is screwing with the Chief's research."

"That is a lie!" Dunne shouted. "I used his original research as a starting point for my own, it's a perfectly acceptable methodology."

Carmen held up her hand, causing both men to fall silent. "Rick, calmly, please tell me what has you so upset."

The young nurse took a breath, visibly trying to let go of his anger. "I was trying to think of anything unusual that's happened to Doctor Beckett, and I remembered something. When I got off shift last night, I heard arguing in here. I usually mind my own business, but I heard the Chief and I wanted to make sure he was okay."

Intrigued, Elizabeth broke her silence. "Was he?"

"He was pissed, more than I've ever seen him. He was yelling that Jeff took his research and twisted it."

"What else?"

"That's all I heard. I asked if everything was okay, and the Chief said it was fine, so I left. But today I was thinking about it, so I came in to talk to Jeff. I found him writing this." He thrust the handful of papers at Carmen, who slipped her glasses on and read them.

"Hmm," she said. "Doctor Weir, Jeff is working on a doctorate in genetic sequencing. Carson is his advisor. At least he has been."

Elizabeth took the offered papers. They were obviously drafts, hand-written and littered with crossed-out words. The gist, however, was very clear. "You've accused Doctor Beckett of unethical behavior and requested a new advisor."

Jeff shifted from foot to foot, looking at once guilty and defiant. "It's not what it looks like," he mumbled, scratching the back of his neck.

"Tell me," Carmen urged.

Sighing, the researcher sank onto a stool and began idly pushing slides across the desk top. "We did argue," he admitted. "I just don't see what the big deal is!" he burst out suddenly. "He knew I was going to base my thesis on his work with protein structure prediction, we'd talked about it extensively."

Elizabeth put on her understanding face and leaned towards him. "So what did you argue about?"

"My research took a turn he didn't approve of. Last night I told him I wanted to change my thesis, focus on the effects of intentional disruption of protein sequences. He lost it."

"Doctor Ruiz?" Weir asked with a raised eyebrow.

"He wants to study genetic weapons. Jeff, why on earth would you think Carson would be okay with that?"

"It's the natural progression of the research!" he insisted. "I thought Beckett could appreciate that. Instead he started ranting about my ethical responsibility. Like he's got the moral high ground on THAT issue."

Rick growled and started forward. Carmen stopped him with a palm on his chest. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Have you been up all night?" The nurse nodded, swiping at his eyes. "Go get some shuteye. I want you to take the night shift tonight." Rick shot Jeff a final glare and left the lab.

Elizabeth laid the papers on the desk and tapped them with a short, neat fingernail. "It looks like you're pretty angry with Doctor Beckett."

"It's not like that," Jeff insisted. "I was never going to send it. I was just trying to…I don't know, work out my feelings or something. I don't want another advisor, Doctor Beckett's the best in his field. Do you realize if his work weren't classified, he'd probably have a Nobel by now? I mean this guy could cure cancer, you know?"

Carmen and Elizabeth exchanged raised eyebrows at the ever-increasing praise. "Jeff," Weir asked, "What happened after you argued?"

"Nothing. He told me to think long and hard about the kind of scientist I wanted to be. Asked me to think about my legacy. Then he said we'd talk again in the morning, and he left."

Carmen frowned thoughtfully. "Did he actually set a time?"

"Yes, he wanted to see me at nine, right after the senior staff meeting."

"Thank you for your time," Elizabeth said with a tight smile. "We'll let you get back to work."

Jeff nodded, then picked up the aborted letter, crumpled it up and threw it in the trashcan.

Elizabeth and Carmen didn't speak until they were safely in the privacy of the CMO's office. Weir was the first to speak. "Was it me, or did he lay it on a bit thick towards the end?"

"Oh yes. Carson is certainly brilliant, but it was definitely a case of protesting too much. Mr. Dunne is being less than forthcoming with us. And there's something else."

"What?"

"Carson made an appointment to meet with Jeff the next day. If he were planning on committing suicide that night, he wouldn't have bothered."

"So either something happened after he left the lab—"

Carmen grimly finished her thought. "Or someone, somehow, made him jump."